Fluid carrying, transferring, and shutoff device



Aug. 13, 1946. L. w. VlZAY 2,405,864

I FLUIDCARRYING, TRANSFERRING, AND SHUT-OFF DEVICES Filed Dec. 21, 1942 2 ShetsShe'et 1 INVENT'OR 44070 W V/zflY MJLL AM 9 ATTQRN EY5.

L. w. VIZAY FLUID CARRYING, TRANSFERRING, AND SHUT-CFF DEVICES Filed Dec. 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m h v, 5 mm T r W W m Patented Aug. 13, 1946 FLUID CARRYING, TRAN SFERRING, AND SHUTOFF DEVICE Lloyd W. Vizay, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to L. W.

Vizay Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 21, 1942, Serial No. 459,615

14 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in fluid carrying, transferring, and shut-off devices.

My invention is of importance in providing for fluid transfer where a substantially permanent conduit connection is desired, but where instantaneous disconnection of the fluid transfer device is sometimes necessary, and where means for preventing loss of fluid and maintenance of certain safety standards are required.

In the description of my invention hereinafter set forth, I shall use as an example of a fluid transfer problem that which prevails in the transfer of liquid fuel from a supplementary fuel can on an army tank to the main fuel reservoir within the tank. It is an important feature of my invention that I have provided means for jettison mounting and jettison discard of the auxiliary can and portions of the transfer conduit and connections in such an installation.

Broadly, the objects of my invention are to provide a jettison can, means for fluid transfer from such a can, means to facilitate jettison of the can, and severance and shut-off means for the transfer conduits.

Further objects of my invention will be explained in greater particularity and will be apparent from the following description of my improvements.

In the drawings: 7 c

Figure l is a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, showing an army tank, my jettison can, connections, and jettison controlling means.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my jettison can and its mounting and releasing means, with a fragmentary showing of a portion of the army :tank.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the fluid receptor and fluid-feed terminal of my fluid transfer device, the yoke for holding the parts in herein described have some reference to conduit 2 connections as described in my pending patent application Serial No. 395,728, filed May 29, 1941, on Fluid transfer devices, but my invention herein described relates more particularly to provisions for the breaking of the connection of fuel supply and fuel receiving unit-s.

An army tank [0 obviously has a limitedcapacity in its fuel reservoir II, and military requirements necessitates the provision of some form of auxiliary or supplemental fuel supply capacity exterior of the tank. Obviously, when military combat commences, the auxiliary supply can must be discarded since it impedes military operation of the tank. I have, therefore, provided means whereby an auxiliary can l2 'may be jettisoned instantly and the fluid-supply connections may be disconnected instantly without loss of fuel and without danger of fuel explosion.

The logical place for an auxiliary fuel can on the modern military tank i0 is within the sweep of cannon I3 mounted in turret H11, and obviously the can must be disposed of before themilitary necessity requires that the gun I3 swing through its entire orbit. I, therefore, provide a jettison can mounting I4 upon Which the canl2 is biased by gravity so as to be completely insecure. To this mounting I secure the can 12 by means of straps 15 which are permanently attached at IE to the mounting I4 and are releasably attached at H by means of jettison clips l8. These jettison clips are somewhat hinge-like in appearance and have a pintle l9 which when pulled out of position will sever the connection between the mounting l4 and one end of eachof the straps l5, thus permitting the can to fall from the mounting. Each of the pintles I9 is provided with a lanyard 20 passing over a suitable sheave 2| and extending through a hawse pipe 22 to a position within the tank where a soldier may pull it. I thus provide an auxiliary can for fuel and provide themeans whereby the can may be jettisoned, but a problem is presented with reference to the disconnection of means for fluid transfer from the auxiliary can l2 to the 'fuel reservoir II. It is here that arrangement must be made for disconnection of the transfer conduit and still preserve the safety and freedom from loss of fuel referred to above.

While the tank i2 is in position on support and secured there by the straps [5, a flexible conduit 25 in fluid connection with the can I2 extends to and is in fluid-tight fluid-transfer relation to a filler unit 26 for the fuel reservoir II. It is to this fluid transfer and fluid-tight connec- On th t attention is now directed. The general configuration of the cap 21 for the filler unit 26 is conventional in that it comprises a threaded cap portion 28 and extended lugs 29 and 30 for manual threaded engagement with a thimble 3| extending into the reservoir H. Centrally of the cap 28 there is a recess 32 marginally bounded by depressed portion 33 of the cap, threaded at 34 to receive a receptor sleeve35 in which I house the valve mechanism to prevent spillage, to provide safety against explosion, and to provide bleed connections for the transfer of air or gases when the reservoir H is receiving fuel or is delivering fuel.

35 is a stemmed valve-like element which I shall term the poppet gate 36, the stem 37 of which is guided in a guide plug 38 at the bottom of the receptor sleeve 39. The margin of the top of the poppet gate has a sliding fit in sleeve 39 and is providedwith a soft valve plug ring 40 to seat against the receptor closure seat 4! in the uppermost extent of movement of the poppet gate. When thus seated, the top of the poppet gate provides a positive closure with the exception of the provision for gas bleed hereinafter to be described.

The poppet gate is urged toward itsclosed position by two springs, one of which is a poppet gate 'spring 42 and the other of which is a jettison spring 43. The jettison spring is shorter than the poppet gate spring, of heavier spring wire, and generally stronger than the poppet gate and is intended to give a violent upward thrust upon the poppet gatewhen a jettison operation is being accomplished. The poppet gate spring 42 on the other hand is of relatively light spring wire, is longer, and carries out the complete poppet gate closure to bring the cushion ring 40 against the seat 4| after the quick thrust of jettison disconnection of the parts has been accomplished.

. To compensate for the withdrawal of fuel from the reservoir in normal operation of the motors fed by the reservoir, I provide for passage of gases into the reservoir from the outside atmosphere and, using the same openings, permit escape of gases under pressure from the reservoir under certain conditions.

For escape of gases from the reservoir, ports 41 pass the gases to a hollow space 45 in the poppet gate itself. From the space 45, gases pass through duct 46 to the outside atmosphere. In

the reverse direction, atmospheric gases may pass through duct 46, space 45 and port 41. In the event of expansion of fuel due to heat or otherwise, the excess pressure in the reservoir may be vented through the ports 41, space 45 and duct 46. Within the chamber 45 I provide'a float 48 with float stem 49. When the liquid fuel in the reservoir ll approaches the top of the reservoir, liquid fuel may enter the chamber 45, elevate the float 48 andits stem 49 to bear against a ball check 49' and urge it to its seat, thus completely including the obvious liquid fueltransfer and gas The largest structural element in the receptor provide for the ready reception and the manipu- 'lation of the nozzle as it is inserted into the receptor sleeve. Marginally of the hood, which is in liquid-tight relation to the nozzle, as shown clearly in Figure 6, I have provided a wedgeshaped bearing ring 55 which may seat upon a gasket 5'5 in the upper face of the end of the receptor sleeve 35, thus establishing liquid-tight relationship between the feed terminal and the receptor when the hood is under pressure, as will be hereinafter described.

Within the hood and delivery nozzle I provide a feed valve 60 with a central valve stem 6| guided in a guide tube 62 spaced from the walls of the nozzle by spider Webs as seen in Figure 4 at 63. In the upper portion of the guide tube I provide a feed valve spring 64 to bear upon the stem 6!. The feed valve spring 64 is thus urged to its seat in much the same manner that the poppet gate is urged to its seat. Suitable gaskets, as indicated in the drawings, may be provided. The spring 64, while smaller in diameter than the poppet gate spring 42, is of heavier spring wire, and in the opposing forces incident to the insertion of my feed terminal in the receptor 35, the poppet gate spring is pushed down so as to push the poppet gate from its seat 4| before the spring 64 i compressed so as to open feed valve 69.

Because of the diliering strengths of the jettison spring 43, the poppet gate spring 42 and the feed valve spring 64, the sequence of mechanical occurrences incident to the establishment of connection between the feed terminal and the receptor isas follows. As the extended end 54 of the delivery nozzle i received in the upper portion of the receptor sleeve 35 the feed valve 60 is closed and the poppet gate is closed. When the abutment tip 44 strikes the valve 68, the first spring to yield is the poppet gate spring 42, and the poppet gate will commence to open in the further insertion of the feed terminal, When the poppet gate contacts the jettison spring 43 the poppet gate will momentarily come to rest, since the combined strength of the poppet gate spring 42 and the jettison spring 43 exceeds the strength of feed valve spring 64, which, in the further movement of the parts toward ultimate fluid delivery and complete engagement is compressed to open the feed valve 60. By the time the feed valve initiates its opening movement, the portion of the nozzle 5| at 53 is by this time entering the upper portion of the receptor sleeve 35, and a sliding fit as above described provides good safety conditions for fluid delivery. Fluid commences then to flow through the feed valve 60, and as the parts are brought further into engagement the feed valve opens up to its completely open position. Then, in the further engagement of the parts, the jettison spring, and of course the poppet gate spring 42, are compressed.

To provide for transfer of air and gases from the reservoir through the feed terminal'to compensate for liquid delivered from the feed terminal to the reservoir, I provide an air transfer passage'at 65 into the guide tube 8.2, where, when the centralvalve stem 6 I is-in the-proper position for fluid delivery, it is connected witha T-shaped conduit 66 in said central valve-stem. Air transfer may then be completed through this T-shaped conduit 66 past the feed valve spring 64 to a-central hood tube Bl. Within the flexible conduit 25 a separate flexible and extensible gas tube 68 is so disposed that itmay fit over the hood tube 61, and this extensible gas tube 68 is used to 'carry the gases to the jettison can 12.

It will be noted that the stem 6| is undercut at 69 at a point where the undercut portion will be opposite the end of tube 65. when the valve 60 is open, but that when the valve .63 is closed there .is no gas vent through tube 65 from the jettison can.

Tracing fluid flow from the conduit 25 into the fuelreservoir I I, it will be seenthat the fluidpasses from the conduit 25 through :52, into the interior of the hood 50, thence downwardly through the feed terminal nozzle and past valve 60 into the receptor 35, and since the receptor poppet gate is open, fluid will pass through. the openings in the side wall of the apertured receptor sleeve. While fluid is thus passing into the reservoir, gases and air of course must be relieved. They will pass through tube 65 intothe interior of stem BI and through tube 61 and extensible tube 68 back to the jettisoncan [2.

It will be noted that the receptor sleeve 39, al-

:thOugh of such diameter as to be in threaded engagement with the cap 28 at 34, has an upward extension in the recess in the cap- 28, flanged outwardly at 10 to loosely engage a flange collar H which has upwardly extending ears [2. Tothese ears I hingedly connect a yoke 13, the central portion of which is provided with an adjusting screw 14, lock-nutted at '15 so that the adjusting screw may be seated at the correct position of adjustment to'impinge solidly upon the top of the hood 50 when the feed terminal is in complete engagement with the receptor. It is obvious from the above description that'when the parts are in completeengagement and the yoke is in the position shown in Figure 4, the jettison spring 43 is in full compression. I therefore'make it possible by means of a lanyard connected tothe yoke at 80 to quickly and easily dislodge the yoke hingedly from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure '7, and immediately the feed terminal will be ejected from the re.- ceptor by the jettisonspring 43. Both fluidflow control valves (the poppet gate and the feed valve 60) will immediately be closed by their respective springs, and if the lanyard for jettison of the entire tank l2 has been pulled the tank'with its supply tube will be jettisoned.

It will be noted-that the yoke 13 has a stop angle 8! to restrict it to a swinging motion of approximately v90 degrees, the stop angle assuring that the yoke cannot go beyond the vertical position in the one direction, thus assuring that a lanyard pull. at 80 will not flnd the yoke in such position as to lock it over the hood.

In the top of the poppet gate 36 I provide a number of soft fuse plugs 82, which, in'the event of fire, will melt and relieve pressure in any reservoir equipped with my fluid transfer device.

Pressures developed under such conditions may exceedthe relief capacity of the poppet bleed 46, or the excessive heat may be presented at a time when the ball -check49 is blockading the poppet bleed. The fuse plugs 82 will then serve their purpose to prevent excessive pressures.

minal being receivable into said receptor for a complete engagement in fluid transfer position, a yoke to hold the terminal in said connected posi- ,tion, a valve in the receptor and a valve in the feed terminal provided with springs for immediate closure thereof upon removal of the terminal from thepreceptor, and a heavy spring in the. receptor biased to thrust the terminal from the receptor.

2. A feed terminal telescopically receivable in a receptor, a receptor shaped for reception of the terminal whereby to provide fluid-tight relationship to the terminal and receptorwhen the two are in complete telescopic, engagement, a poppet gate positioned within the receptor, whereby to provide fluid-tight closure of the receptor upon removal of the terminal, a'valve for automatic closure of the terminal upon Withidrawal of the terminal from the receptor, a light spring in the receptor to bias the-poppet gate to closed position, a stronger spring for the valve in the feed terminal to close the valve in the terminal, whereby upon progressive engagement of the terminal and the receptor the poppet gate will open first, and a spring stronger than either of said poppet gate or terminal valve springs and positioned to bias the parts against final stages of progressive telescopic engagement, and a yoke to hold the parts in complete engagement and provided with means for quick release, whereby upon quick release said heavy spring will project .the terminal from the receptor.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid .passage and a concentric gas passage, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union'arebro-ught into operative relation, and :means for locking the union members in operative relation.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a unioncomprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage and a concentric gas passage, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are ber, said valves comprising portions which inter engage to unseat the valves when the members of the-unionare brought together in operative relation, the spring'of oneoi said members being stronger than the spring of the other -member,

and an abutment to limit the extent to which the valve of the latter member may be opened.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a

union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage and at least one of said members having a concentric gas passage, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage, and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are brought into operative relation, and'means for locking the union members in operative relation.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage and a gas passage, one of the members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage, and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are brought into operative relation, and means for locking the union members in operative relation.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage and a gas passage, the gas passage and the liquid passage of one of said members being concentric, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage, and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are brought into operative relation, means for locking the union members in operative relation, and means operable from a remote point for releasing said looking means, thereby permitting said members to separate and said valves to close.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage and a gas passage, one of said members having valve means adapted to close the liquid passage and valve means adapted to close the gas passage, both of said Valves being biased toward closing position, means for opening both of said valves when the members of the union are brought into operative relation, means for locking the union members in operative relation, and means operable from a remote point for releasing said locking means thereby permitting said members to separate and said valves to close.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise and each provided with a liquid passage, one of said members also having a gas passage and having valve means biased toward closing position for closing both its liquid and gas passages, means for opening said valve means when the members of the union are brought into operative relation, locking means for holding the union members in operative relation, said locking means including a control member for releasing said locking means and having limited movement in which said locking means is engageable and disengageable, and means operable from a remote point and connected with said control member for the release of said locking means, the bias on said valve means assisting in the separation of said members in the closing of the valve means.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising two connector members meeting endwise, said members each having a liquid passage, valve means controlling the respective liquid passages of the members, spring means biasing said valve means toward their respective closed positions, means for opening both of the valve means against their respective spring means when the members of the union are brought into operative coupling relation, said spring means :being sufficiently strong to tend not only to close the respective valve means but to dislodge the {said members from their fully coupled relation, locking means for holding said members in fully coupled relation against the bias of said springmeans, said locking means including a quickly releasable detent and means including a flexible connector operable from a remote point for releasing said detent, whereby to unlock said members for at least partial separation thereof under .the bias of said spring means, said valves closing in the uncoupling movement of said members.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising a pair of coupling members, each having a liquid passage, a valve seat and a valve, means for opening the valves when the coupling members are brought into operative coupling relation, quickly releasable detent means for locking said members releasably in coupling relation, means operable from a remote point for releasing said detent means, whereby to unlock the coupling between said members, and spring means for closing the respective valves of said members and effecting movement of separation between the members upon the release of said detent means.

13. The device of claim 12 in which the spring means acting on the valve of one of said members is stronger than the spring means acting 'on the valve of the other, and an abutment limits the extent to which the latter valve may be opened before dislodging the valve having the stronger spring means.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a union comprising a pair of coupling members in detachable connection, each having a liquid passage, a valve seat and a valve, the respective valves being provided with means engageable in the coupling of said members, said valves opening oppositely in their respective members and adapted to be openedwhen said members are fully coupled, spring means acting on the valves individualy in a direction to bias them toward their respective seats, the spring means acting on the valve of one member being materially stronger than the spring means acting on the valve of the other, whereby said other valve will :be the first to be opened in the coupling of said members, a stop limiting the opening movement of the Valve last mentioned whereby to force open the valve having the stronger spring, a quickly releasable detent constituting means for locking said members in coupled relation whereby to hold said valves open, the spring means acting on the respective valves tending to separate said members upon the release of said detent, and means including a flexible element operable from a re- 'mote point connected with said detent for the release thereof, whereby to permit said members to be separated in accordance with the bias of the spring acting upon their respective valves.

LLOYD W. VIZAY. 

